“Some People are Never Going to Clap for You.  Win Anyway.”

This is a quote that I recall.  No credit given to anyone, which is just as well.  The author probably figured that nobody would clap and said it or wrote it anyway.

In Sunday School many months ago my grandkids were obviously talking about the Fruits of the Spirit and were asking about generosity.  I didn’t want them to think that being generous only meant giving away material things, but also could be interpreted as showing gratitude.  It was shared that we could show gratitude to a classmate for mastering something or showing gratitude to a teammate who made a great play or scored a point.  

I was thinking more about this later and connecting that conversation with this quote. 

 

“Some People are Never Going to Clap for You.  Win Anyway.”

In Chapel we have also talked and shared about this concept.  I have shared about how we can “warm each other’s hearts.”  How often do we either feel unappreciated or we fail to give gratitude?  Maybe it’s at home?  Somebody has to do the chores and prepare the meals. Maybe it’s colleagues or supervisors in the workplace.  Sometimes it is neglect, but sometimes it just doesn’t enter the mind of an individual to show gratitude.  Maybe they just expect the effort or don’t see it.  I think we should go out of our way to notice and note what others are doing.

Well, it doesn’t always happen, so we should be sure to practice self-gratitude too.  Use self-talk to thank and promote yourself.  You work hard, do good things and deserve the recognition even if it is self-gifted.

Another thought is related to sports.  Teams that win consistently eventually develop resentment from fans of other teams.  It doesn’t matter the effort or achievements, people are not going to applaud.  Recently, I think the New England Patriots would fall into this.  In history, the New York Yankees fall into this.  A vast number of fans did not applaud them, but they just went out and won anyway to acquire their own gratitude.

Look around for those doing great work, making achievements, and winning.  Give them some applause.  Give them some gratitude.  Most likely, they are just going to WIN ANYWAY.